Senator Manchin secures more than $191 million in funding package for West Virginia

Danielle Sandler
·3 min read
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CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — Senator Joe Manchin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured a number of West Virginia priorities in a bipartisan appropriations package.

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These priorities include the Fiscal Year 2024 Energy and Water; Interior and Environment; Commerce, Justice, Science; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bills.

Funding for the state of West Virginia through Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) also goes towards factors such as updating the state with the most current technology, fixing infrastructures, and keeping the Mountain State “Wild and Wonderful.” Approximately $191,265,370 in funding has been given to 151 West Virginia projects.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I fight every day to ensure West Virginia receives the federal resources we need to build stronger communities, spur economic opportunity, and strengthen our energy and national security. This package of six funding bills includes historic wins for the Mountain State, including more than $191 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for projects like expanding Corridor H, renovating the Wheeling Gateway Visitors Center, and upgrading the Elkins-Randolph County Public Library. I look forward to seeing President Biden sign this legislation into law and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for West Virginian and American priorities while also working to get our fiscal house in order.

Senator Joe Manchin

Senator Manchin also secured funding for national and energy security provisions, which would be beneficial to the state, along with other bipartisan negotiations.

West Virginia Priority Highlights include:

  • Generating Hydrogen: $390 million for crosscutting hydrogen research, development, production, and storage. Helps to promote energy security and economic development.

  • Fighting Against the Drug Epidemic: Includes Senator Manchin’s FREED of Opioids Act, requiring the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to go through certain trials involving opioids.

  • Economic Development: $28.6 million for West Virginia for Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Grants, $65m for ARC POWER Grants & $75 million for EDA’s Assistance to Coal Communities.

  • Protecting the great outdoors: $900 million in funding for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Federal and State programs, and $1.97 billion in funding for Department of the Interior (DOI) and Forest Service deferred maintenance projects. Projects receiving funding include:

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve:

  • $36.1 million of National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund will be used to remove excess structures and abandoned buildings (Phase II), address deficient utilities, historic structures, and visitor facilities.

  • $655,000 in Land and Water Conservation Fund allocations.

Gauley River National Recreation Area:

  • $920,000 in Land and Water Conservation Fund allocations.

Monongahela National Forest:

  • $685,000 of National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund used to replace the Holcomb Bridge.

Rebuilding the infrastructure: 55% of West Virginia’s roads are in bad condition, while 20% of the states bridges have flaws.

  • $350 million for the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS). This includes $250 million through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

  • $250 million for a new bridge bundling grant program.

  • $345 million for discretionary grant programs at the Department of Transportation, including RAISE grants.

West Virginia CDS Highlights includes:

Senator Manchin also obtained a total of $191,265,370 in CDS requests in the following funding bills.

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  • Finishing Corridor H: $12,500,000 to build the Wardensville to Virginia State Line section of Corridor H.

  • Camp Dawson: $8,300,000 to ensure all soldiers at Camp Dawson have access to facilities for a healthy routine lifestyle.

  • Upgrading water systems: $10,022,00 to improve the water system for the town of West Union.

  • Reinvigorating outdated infrastructure: $5,000,000 to fix the blighted Wheeling Gateway Visitors Center and $2,2000,000 to renovate the Elkins-Randolph County Public Library.

  • Protecting the communities: $4,165,000 to construct a new fire station in Huntington.

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